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Scalise has been under fire after his office confirmed that he spoke at a 2002 convention of the European-American Unity and Rights Organization, which was founded by Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke.

The appearance was first reported by liberal Louisiana blogger Lamar White Jr. Last week, Scalise sent out a statement adding the group is driven by "hate-fueled ignorance and intolerance," which he rejects.

Scalise is now the third-ranking Republican in the House. Several members of his party say they are supporting him after he said he regrets giving the speech.

But White House spokesman Josh Earnest says it's up to Republicans to decide whether he retains his position and what that says about their conference. He said who is in their leadership "says a lot about who they are, what their values are and what the priorities of the conference should be."

The Louisiana Democratic Party called the revelation "disturbing" in a statement released late Monday, but the state's lone Democrat in the House of Representatives offered support for his high-ranking GOP colleague.